Fairport girls visit RIT Jan. 12 to learn about careers in technology

Students will participate in activities, visit labs and meet potential role models

Fairport middle school students will visit RIT on Wednesday to learn about careers in computing and engineering technology, two disciplines where women have long been underrepresented.

Eighth-graders from Fairport’s middle schools will visit Rochester Institute of Technology on Jan. 12 to experience a taste of what it’d be like to pursue careers in computing and technology. The students, who are in an all-female technology class as part of Fairport’s single gender class pilot program, will spend the morning on campus, arriving at RIT’s Louise M. Slaughter Hall at 9:15 a.m.

RIT will offer two activity sessions, one put on by its Women in Computing group and the other by its Women in Technology group. RIT’s Women in Computing students will show off some of their computer projects before demonstrating the computer science behind various card tricks in room 2210 from 9:45 a.m. until 11:40 a.m. At the same time, the Women in Technology group will showcase engineering technology projects from their labs.

Wednesday’s visit is part of a continued effort by RIT to encourage women’s participation in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) disciplines—where women have long been underrepresented. RIT’s Women in Computing group hosted Fairport’s Cyberettes, an all-girls computer club comprised of sixth graders, last year.

A. Sue Weisler

Fairport middle school students will visit RIT on Wednesday to learn about careers in computing and engineering technology, two disciplines where women have long been underrepresented.